Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi.(2021,74th Cannes) Based on Short Story in "Men Without Women: Stories"2014 by Haruki Murakami.
From time to time,
she starts sneaking into Yamaga's house.
Yamaga?
The name of her first love. He's a high school classmate.
He's not aware of her love for him.
She doesn't want him to know, so that's OK with her.
But she wants to know more about him.
She wants to know everything about him,
without letting him know about her.
So she sneaks in.
Right.
When he's attending classes, she feigns illness and leaves early.
Yamaga's an only child, and his dad's an office worker.
His mom's a school teacher.
So the girl knows there's nobody at home during the day.
How does she sneak in? She's just an ordinary teenager.
She takes a guess and searches under a potted plant by the front door.
There's a key.
What a careless family.
She uses it to let herself into the house.
She goes upstairs and opens a door.
The number on the soccer uniform on a hanger tells her it's his room.
The room is tidy for a 17-year-old boy,
and she senses that he has controlling parents, his mom in particular.
She breathes in.
She listens carefully.
She hears silence.
An amplified silence, like the sound through a hearing aid, fills the room.
She lies down on Yamaga's bed.
She holds back the urge to masturbate.
Why? The limits of a television drama?
No.
She has her own set of rules.
Things she'll allow or won't allow herself to do.
She can sneak into his house, but not masturbate there.
Right.
Then she leaves an unused tampon in his room.
A tampon?
- That's what you said. - That's so weird.
More so than usual. Can this be adapted for TV?
Don't worry. The producer said, it's for an innovative late-night slot.
If you say so.
So she takes out an unused tampon from her school bag
and puts it in a drawer in his desk.
What if his overprotective mom finds it?
She feels a rush of excitement at the thought.
She's kinky.
The tampon is a token, indicating she was really there.
A token.
She continues sneaking in from time to time after that.
She's aware of the risks.
She's the type, who is trusted by her parents and teachers,
so a lot is at stake.
Nevertheless, she can't stop.
She can't stop.
She sniffs around in his room, longing for his slightest scent.
She always takes a token from his room when she leaves.
A pencil or something that he won't notice is gone.
And in exchange, she leaves a token of herself.
At her most daring moment,
she took off her underwear and put it deep in his chest of drawers.
She feels that they are gradually mingling by exchanging such tokens.
And that she is giving him the strength to escape his mother's control.
That's it for today.
I ﻿see.
Want to know the rest?
Yeah, I do.
Shall I wait, or shall I write it? Which?
You can still wait.
Yeah. I want to know the rest, too.
You really don't know?
I ﻿never do, do I?
Well, I thought maybe this time it was about your first love.
Of course it's not!
Thanks.
- Hello. - Hello.
When does the curtain go up?
6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:00.
I'll be cutting it close.
Don't bother coming. You shouldn't slip out of a meeting.
I'll bother. I want to see your play.
- Break a leg. - Thanks.
Not worth a curse.どうにもならん！
(You say we have to come back tomorrow?) 明日戻って来なきゃいけないと言ったよな？
Yes.ああ。
(Then we can bring a good bit of rope.) じゃあロープの切れ端でも持ってくるのがいい。
Yes.ああ、
(Didi?)ディディ？
Yes.うん、
(I can't go on like this.) もう動けないよ、
That's what you think. どうせ、やる事になるよ。
(If we parted? That might be better for us.) もし別れたら？・・じゃあ、その方が いいかもな。
We'll hang ourselves tomorrow. 明日来る奴らは、
Unless Godot comes. もし、ゴドーが来なかったら、
(And if he comes?) （じゃあ、来たら？）
We'll be saved. 俺たちは救われる。
(Well? Shall we go?) （おや？・・行くのかい？）
Pull on your trousers. ズボンを上げろ。
(What?) 何？
Pull on your trousers. ズボンを上げろ！
Yes?
May I come in?
Come in.
What?
It was great.
Yeah? I'm glad.
May I introduce someone now?
Yeah, after I change...
Takatsuki.
Hello, I'm Takatsuki.
Your wife kindly invited me.
Don't say "wife."
I ﻿see you a lot on TV.
Thank you.
He's in my new one, too. A good role.
He always has a good role.
Better than ever. He's the heroine's love interest.
Yes.
When I mentioned your play during the production meeting,
and ﻿he said he wanted to come.
I'd heard about your methods and was interested.
They're so different. Multilingual.
I'm not sure if this is the right sentiment, but it was moving.
Really? You're a strange young man.
Oto, please.
It's true.
Yes, thank you.
Don't thank me.
I need to change, so maybe later.
Excuse me.
Good work.
Sorry, did I wake you?
You must be tired.
My flight's Narita at 9:00, gotta run.
See you.
You didn't have to come.
Here. Uncle Vanya.
I recorded it. About time you need it, right?
Thanks.
You'll miss your flight.
See you. Take care.
See you.
Here, have some tea.
I don't feel like drinking tea.
How about vodka, then?
Nobody knows how I feel.
I can't sleep at night from frustration and anger.
I've wasted my time.
I could have attained so much from life,
but it's too late now at this age.
Uncle Vanya, that's so boring.
You speak as if your former convictions were somehow to blame.
But your convictions were not at fault.
You were the one at fault.
-
- Hi there. - Hi. Did you get there all right?
Yeah.
Jury duty starts tomorrow?
Yeah.
How's your hotel? Comfy?
They're all the same.
Try any Vladivostok specialties.
What's the specialty?
I don't know, so I'm asking you.
How lazy.
A ﻿week later
For 25 years he's been pretending to be someone he's not.
Look at that swagger, acting like he's some kind of lord!
You envy him, don't you?
Yes, I do. I envy him a lot.
Such good luck with women!
Don Juan himself couldn't have had more experience!
His first wife, who was my sister...
Hey.
What a relief.
I'm OK.
You're really all right?
I don't know yet.
They examined me. Still waiting for the results.
Glaucoma in your left eye.
Glaucoma?
Damage to the optic nerve causing partial vision loss.
Loss of vision in one eye is hard to detect because the other eye adapts.
Which means that it doesn't impact daily activities,
and by the time one notices it, it's often too late.
You were lucky it was diagnosed early.
Can I drive?
It's not impossible.
That means I can?
Yes, if your symptoms don't worsen.
How is it treated?
The root cause of glaucoma is still unknown, so it can't be cured.
The goal is to slow its progression.
These eye drops lower eye pressure.
You might doubt the effect, but you'll lose your vision if you stop using it.
Make sure you use them twice daily.
"Died February 25, 2001"
You wanted to drive today, didn't you?
Why?
Well, you just got your car back.
I love you dearly, but...
What, all of a sudden?
There's one thing I can't stand.
What?
Your driving. Face forward.
Why didn't you change lanes just now?
Hey, that could be considered verbal harassment.
Honestly speaking...
did you want kids again?
I don't know.
Nobody can take her place, after all.
But we could have loved them as much.
There's no use in me wanting something that you don't want.
I'm sorry.
It's not your fault. I made that choice with you.
So it's all right.
I ﻿really do love you so much.
Thanks.
I'm so glad you're with me.
One day, she remembers her previous existence.
You mean that girl who sneaks in?
She used to be a lamprey in her previous life.
A lamprey?
She was a noble lamprey.
She didn't leech off the fish
that passed overhead like other lampreys did.
She fastened her suction cup-like mouth to a rock on the riverbed
and did nothing but sway there.
Until she wasted away
and really became like riverweed,
she clung to the rock.
She doesn't remember how she died.
Did she starve to death?
Was she eaten by other fish?
All she remembers is swaying at the bottom of the river.
In Yamaga's room, she suddenly understands.
What she's doing here is the same.
She can't tear herself away from his room, just like how she clung to a rock.
Come to think of it, the silence in this room
is very similar to under water.
Time ﻿stands still.
Past and present fade away.
And she...
becomes a lamprey again.
She...
begins to masturbate on Yamaga's bed.
She strips off all her clothes one layer at a time.
She'd forbidden herself from doing it,
but now she can't stop.
Tears fall,
wetting the pillow.
She thinks that those tears are her token for today.
Just then, someone comes home.
A door opens downstairs.
She notices then that it's starting to get dark outside the window.
Is it Yamaga?
Or his father?
His mother?
She hears that person coming up the stairs.
It's over.
But now, she can stop at last.
At last, it'll all end.
She can finally escape the karmic fate from her prior life.
She'll become a new person.
The door opens.
"Neither eel nor fish!? Lamprey."
Do you remember yesterday's story?
Sorry, I don't remember clearly. I was pretty much asleep.
I ﻿see.
Sorry.
That just means it wasn't worth remembering.
I have to go.
You have plans today?
I'm teaching a workshop. Didn't I tell you?
No.
Sorry.
Are you driving?
Yeah.
Sorry, I still had it.
Thanks.
Can you handle it?
- I'll be fine. See you... - Yusuke.
When you return tonight, can we talik?
Of course. Why do you ask?
- Have a nice day. - You too.
Is she faithful to him?
Yes, unfortunately.
Why unfortunately?
Because that woman's fidelity is a lie through and through.
There's an abundance of rhetoric, but no logic in it.
My life is lost,
there's no turning back.
That thought haunts me like an evil spirit day and night.
My past went by without event. It's unimportant.
But the present
is worse.
What should I do about my life and my love?
What happened...
When you speak to me of love and romance,
I feel like I'm in a daze
and don't know what to say.
Oh... Lord, have mercy.
Sonya.
I'm miserable.
If you only knew how miserable I am.
What can we do? We must live our lives.
Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya.
We'll live through the long, long days,
and through the long nights.
We'll patiently endure the trials that fate sends our way.
Even if we can't rest, we'll work for others
both now and when we have grown old.
And when our last hour comes
we'll go quietly.
And in the great beyond, we'll say to Him
that we suffered,
that we cried
that life was hard...
Oto.
Hello?
Please send an ambulance.
"Oto Kafuku Funeral Service" "家福 音、葬儀式場"
So sudden... a cerebral hemorrhage.
For 25 years he's been pretending to be someone he's not.
Look at that swagger, acting like he's some kind of lord!
(You envy him, don't you
Yes, I do. I envy him a lot!
His first wife, who was my sister,
was a wonderful, kind woman.
And she loved him from the bottom of her heart,
the way an untainted, noble human loves an angel.
And his second wife, as you can see, is a lovely, smart woman.
Why?
(Is ﻿she faithful to him?)
Yes, unfortunately.
(Why unfortunately?)
Because
that woman's fidelity
is a lie through and through.
(Vanya...)
(Don't talk like that.)
(Come on...)
(Shut up, Waffles.)
(No, I'll have my say. My wife took off with her lover)
2 years later
Of course..
I'm sure that
the truth
no matter what it is, isn't that frightening.
What is most frightening
is not knowing it.
"Hiroshima Arts and Culture Theater"
-
- Are you tired after the long trip? - Not at all.
Long time no see, Ms. Yuzuhara.
Let me introduce you. Yoon-su will participate as the dramaturge.
We've exchanged e-mails.
As we explained over e-mail,
your residency will be for 2 months until December, starting today.
6 weeks of rehearsals and 2 weeks of performances.
Auditions will already begin tomorrow.
Here are the audition sheets.
Thank you.
We informed theaters around Asia
and received applications from Korea, China, Hong Kong,
Taiwan and the Philippines.
Yes.
I'll interpret Korean.
People who can speak English will communicate with you directly.
Yes.
Actors from overseas were recommended by the local theaters' program directors.
And we also received many applications from within Japan.
Even I recognize some faces.
I'll have a look. Can't wait.
Now let's go to your residence.
We found a place about an hour away by car, just like you requested.
Thank you.
On a scenic island, since you're here.
An island, huh?
Also, we've hired a driver for you according to our rules.
So our driver will be handling your car, is that all right?
About that... I'll drive my own car.
I've got insurance. Please don't mind me.
This isn't about hospitality, actually. We can't let you drive.
What do you mean?
An artist ran over a person by accident in the past.
Yes.
It was terrible. Since then, it's become the rule
to provide a driver for our resident artists, no exceptions.
I go over my lines while I'm driving.
It's an important routine for me.
That's why I asked you to book a hotel some distance away.
We're sorry.
We should have explained to you more clearly.
There's a budget set aside for it, so the theater festival has to use it.
If it concerns you, you're welcome to test our driver.
But don't worry, the driver is very skilled.
Let's go.
Thank you for your understanding.
I'll follow you in the official car.
She's your driver.
I'm Misaki Watari.
This is Mr. Kafuku, our stage director.
The festival hires her every year. She knows the roads well.
She's an excellent driver.
Nice to meet you.
Sorry, but I still haven't agreed to having you as my driver.
Is a test drive OK with yen?
Yes, of course.
No, I'll drive after all.
I'm sorry.
Is it because I'm a young woman?
That's not why.
This car is pretty old and has quirks. It's not easy the first time.
Very well.
Then if you sense any danger in my driving, you take the wheel.
How does that sound?
Do you prefer the passenger seat?
Any problems with
the electrical components?
No, none.
Sorry, but you said it was an old car, so I had to make sure.
I've driven it 15 years and no problems.
I ﻿see.
Could you play the cassette tape?
The cassette tape?
Yes.
I'm leaving.
Vanya, please just drop it. Do you hear me ?
I refuse.
Wait, I'm not done yet.
You destroyed my life.
I've never lived.
Because of you,
I wasted the best years of my life and spoiled them.
You're my foe. My bitter enemy.
You fool.
If this estate is yours, then take it.
I don't want it.
I'm leaving right now. This is like hell.
I can't stand it.
I'm gifted and intelligent. Courageous, too.
If I'd lived normally, I might have been another Schopenhauer or Dostoevsky.
I'm sick of this nonsense.
I'm losing my mind.
Mother, I can't take it anymore.
Listen to the professor.
Mother, what should I do?
No, never mind. Don't say anything. I know what to do.
I'll make you pay for this.
Oh, I'll do it.
What do you think?
The Setouchi sea is tranquil and lovely.
Her driving, I mean.
I'll come pick you up at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning.
OK. Sorry it's so early.
No problem.
Shall I play the tape?
Yes, please.
Uncle, are you crying
I'm not crying. It's nothing. Don't be ridiculous.
Your eyes when you looked at me now looked exactly like your dead mother.
Oh, Sonya. Your mother,
my sister, where is she now?
昔から、お悪かったでしすものね。
ベーラ様もソーニャお嬢さんのお母様も。
夜、お眠りになれませんでした。
思い煩ってらっしゃったんですね。
(行こう、マリーナ.)
あなた、私のセリフまだ終わってないのに、
まあいいわ。
私も、この脚がね、痛むんです、ズキンズキンと。
- OK、ありがとうございます。 - Thank you.
さあ、次の方、Next,Please Come In.
失礼します。
Hi,My Name is Jamie Chung. I'm from Taiwan and my mother tongue is Mandarin. こんにちは、私の名前はジャニス・チャンです。 私は台湾出身で、母国語はマンダリン（北京語）です。
I will play the part of Yelena. エレーナ役を希望します。
高槻耕史です。 アーストロ医役を希望します。
お二人が同じシーンに登場する。 そのため、夫婦で行動することになります。
-君と彼女は希望した箇所が同じだった。 コンビでやってもらう。 -はい。
彼女がエレーナで、どこからですか？
”あなたはずるい人だから、”
はい。
"From You're cunning Woman" はい。
相手の言葉がわからないんですが、 これはフィーリングでも大丈夫ですか？
-ああ、どうぞ、いつでも始めて。 -Whenever,Yoy are Ready.
ははーん、あなたはずるい人だ。
(どういう意味なの?)
ずるい人だ！
百歩譲ってソーニャ様が苦しまれている として、まぁその過程は良しとしましょう、
でも..
(何を言っているの？)
あなたは、よくご存じだ。
どうして私が毎日こちらに伺うのか、
どうして、誰に会いたくてここにやって来るのか！
- あなたは魔物だ、かわいい顔を... - (魔物って..?)
(どんな意味なの？)
きれいな毛並みの 妖艶（ようえん）な魔物だ...
あなたのような魔物には 生贄（いけにえ）が必要だ！
(気でも狂っているの？)
ずいぶん遠慮深いんだな、
(私はあなたが思っているような 女じゃない！)
(誓って私は下品でもないわ！)
おっしゃる事などありません、 余計な言葉は要らない。
美しい人だ。
このきれいな手、
(いい加減にして！)
いいですか、
これは避けがたい運命です。
(やめて下さい。)
(放っておいて、)
明日、森までいらっしゃい、
二時頃に、
いいですね？いいですね！
いらっしゃいますね？
(放っておいて..)
そこまで..失礼。
ありがとう。Thanks.
次が最後です、少し変わっています。
(どうぞ[韓国語])
リー・ユナさんです。
「韓国手話を使います」と、 自己紹介されています。
ユンさん、わかるんですか？
はい。
(このシーンを選んだ人はいないので、 一人でオーディションを受けることに なります。）
彼女は耳が聞こえるそうです。
必要な事があれば、韓国語で 私が通訳します。
いいですか？
はい。
始めて下さい。[韓国語]
おじさん、盗ったのモルヒネ？
出しなさい。
どうして心配させるの？
返して！おじさん。
私の方がおじさんよりずっと不幸かもしれない、
それでも私は自棄（ヤケ）なんか起こさない。
命が自然に最期を迎えるまで、 耐え抜くつもり。
だから、
おじさんも自分の人生を耐え抜いて。
大切なたった一人の私のおじさん、
お願い。
返して、
私たちの事を思って、
この悲しみを、、耐え抜いて。
ありがとうございます、カムサムニダ。
おはようございます。ここにいる皆さんが テスト合格者です。
しかし、皆さんの役は既に 決まっています。
今からそのリストを発表します。 同意なら契約書にサインして下さい。
セレブリアコフ、Roy Lucelo.
エレーナ、Janice Chang.
ソーニャ、Lee Yoon-A.
ヴォイニツカヤ、Kaoru Komagata.
ワーニャ、Koji Takatsuki.
アーストロフ、Ryu Jeong-Eui.
テレーギン、Takashi Kimura.
マリーナ、Yumi Eto.
以上、That's All.
すみません、僕がワーニャと いう事ですか？
ああ、
歳が違い過ぎませんか？
メイクすればいい。 君以外も皆、実年齢のまま演じる わけじゃない。
意に添わなければサイン しなければいい。
別の役者に役がいく。
誓約書にサインし終わったら 早速、本読みから始めます。
(おめでとう、素敵だ)
素晴らしい眺めですね。
讃嘆すべき風景でございますね、閣下。
木村さん、もっとゆっくり お願いします。
- もっと？ - はい。
それでもっと皆に聞こえるように、 はっきりお願いします。
はあ。
続きから。
讃嘆すべき風景でございますね、閣下。
明日は、
私たちは森に行かなくては、パパ。
皆さん、どうぞお茶を。
(よろしければ...)
(早く、誰かに聞かれるから、)
いや、言わせて下さい、あなたの事が 好きだ。邪険にしないで下さい。
それだけで僕は幸せなんだから。
私はここにはいられないわ。
Thank you. Let's stop here for today. ありがとうございます。今日はここまでです。 お疲れ様でした。 -お疲れ様
（どうした？そんな浮かない顔をして）
Is it because you feel sorry for that professor? あの先生の事がかわいそうなのか？
Leave me alone. 僕にかまうな、
(Or because you're in love with his wife?) もしかして、君は彼の細君を愛しているのか？
She's a good friend of mine. あの人は僕の親友だ。
(Already?) もう、そうなのか？
What do you mean by "already"? ”もう”ってどういう事だ？
Stop. ストップ、
Still too much emotion? まだ感情が入ってしまっていますか？
Ryu i's doing it right. Emulate him. Continue. リュウはできてる。彼を真似てみろ。続きから、Please Continue.
(There's a proper order for a woman to become a man's friend.) （男が女と友人になるのには順序があるんだ。）
(First, she's an acquaintance,) （まず、彼女は知人であり、）
(then she's lover, and finally, she becomes a good friend.) （その後、恋人になり、最後に 親友になるんだ。）
What a banal philosophy. 凡庸な哲学だ。
Takatsuki. 高槻、
Try focusing on your text. All you have to do is read it. 一度、自分のテキストに集中してみろ。ただ読むだけでいいんだ。
私たちはロボットじゃない。
どんな意味だ？
もちろんあなたの指示には従いますが、
私たちはロボットじゃない。
うまく読む必要はないんだ。Just Simple is The Best.
君の意図がわかればいいだけなんだ。
From where we left off, then. じゃあ、続きからもう一度、
私はそれを見逃してしまったのか？ また見落としてしまったのか？
外したか？またしくじったのか？
Damn it. ちくしょう！
God damn it. えーい、ちくしょうめ！
(Get me out of here.Kill me if you must.) （私をここから出して！必要なら殺して！）
(I can't stay here anymore.) （もうここにはいられない！）
What's wrong with me? What am I doing? 一体どうしたんだ、俺は？何をしているんだ？
看護士さん、ちょっと！
That's is All for Today. 今日はここまでです。お疲れ様でした。
Mr. Kafuku. 家福さん、
Yes? はい？
Could we do a little interview for the festival website? 演劇祭のサイトに載せるインタビューに 少し時間をいただけますか？
それを見逃したのか？ また見落としたのか？
Yes. はい。
We need a video, so somewhere outside. 動画も撮りたいので外でもいいですか？ ええ。
All we do is read the text. ずっと本読みばかりねぇ。
When will we start moving? いつになれば動くのかしら？
Honestly, the foreign language-parts lull me to sleep. 正直、外国語のセリフばかりだと、寝ちゃいそうになるのよ。
- Me too!- Me too. 私も。私も。
- Though not in a bad way. そんな悪い意味じゃないんだけどね。 - Yeah, it's like hearing a sutra. ええ、お経聞いてるみたいな感じでね。
Sounds like a blessing when you put it that way. なんだか、ありがたく思いたい。
Yoon-su, where did you learn Japanese?
I studied Noh in graduate school at Waseda University for 2 years.
Korean, English, Japanese, and sign language. That's awesome.
Japanese and Korean have similar grammar, so learning the vocabulary is enough.
I've liked English from a young age.
When did you learn sign language?
Mr. Kafuku, you kindly offered to take me home.
May I invite you over for dinner today?
No, I don't want to intrude.
There's something I have to apologize to you about.
- What is it? - You'll know when we get there.
Both of you, please come inside.
Let's go. He probably doesn't feel comfortable making you wait hungry.
There's no need to worry about that.
I wouldn't worry. But I'm sure he will.
Come on.﻿
My wife.
She says it looks like me.
That's mean.
These potatoes are from the back yard. She grew them.
This Is what I wanted to apologize to you about.
Why didn't you tell me?
She worried you might find it hard to reject her, if you knew she was my wife.
No, I...
You wouldn't mind, I can tell.
But silence is golden.
To answer your question, I learned sign language after meeting her.
I wanted to know her language so I learned it.
That's really something.
She's originally a dancer,
and I was the coordinator when her dance company performed in Busan.
Love at first sight.
Don't tell her.
Why Hiroshima?
I was invited to the theater festival 3 years ago.
And Yoon-A came with you?
Yes. When I got the offer, I debated whether or not she should come along.
In Korea, she has family and friends who know sign language.
I thought she would be lonely here.
But I figured I could listen to her like a hundred people.
I felt that I'm the only one, who could support her.
Why did you decide to audition?
"I got pregnant and took time off from dancing,"
"but had a miscarriage."
"Although I wanted to work again, my body refused to dance."
"That was when my husband told me about you and suggested I try it."
Thank you.
Is there anything hard about rehearsals?
"Why do you ask me something, that you don't ask others?"
"You don't have to be nicer to me than you are to other people."
"People not understanding my words is normal for me."
"But I can see and hear."
"Sometimes I can understand a lot more than words."
"That's what's important in our rehearsals, right?"
Yes.
"So right now, every day is so much fun."
Chekhov's text comes inside me and"
moves my body that was stuck before."
"I'm glad I got my courage up."
Glad to hear that.
Do you like spicy food?
Yes. It's good.
How's her driving?
It's fabulous.
She speeds up and slows down so smoothly, I hardly feel gravity.
Sometimes I forget I'm in a car.
I've experienced many people's driving, but it's never been so pleasant.
I'm glad she was assigned as my driver is how I feel now.
"Compliment us actors as much for once," she says.
This means, "to compliment"?
Yes.
Thank you for inviting me.
It was Yoon-su who invited us.
They were a lovely couple.
Now I'm curious about your rehearsals.
Yoon-A's Sonya.
I've been hearing your tape, so I kept thinking, "She's Sonya."
You're welcome to watch.
No, thank you. I'm sorry.
- Come watch us... - Shall I play the tape?
Yeah.
Vanya, you're educated and intelligent,
so you must surely understand
that the world isn't destroyed by villains...
Don't you get sick of hearing this?
No.﻿
I like this voice is why.
see.
Whose voice is it?
My wife.
Oh.
The flow of the entire play has to be memorized with my method.
So I listen to it over and over.
I acted in Uncle Vanya before, so Vanya's parts are left out.
When I say my line at my pace, the next line starts precisely.
Wow.
What I said before is true.
I forget that I'm in the car and forget that you're here.
Annoying, isn't it?
No, it's your job.
Where did you learn to drive?
My hometown.
Kami-junitaki Village in Hokkaido,
where you need a car to do anything.
Oh.
My mother taught me to drive,
and I've done it since junior high.
Junior high?
Yes.
My mother worked at a nightclub in Sapporo.
She took a train there, so ever since junior high
I drove her to and from our local station.
The station was an hour away.
We left the house at 5 p.m. and I picked her up at 7 a.m.
During those two hours,
my mother wanted to sleep.
If I woke her with my driving, she'd kick me in the back
and hit me when we arrived.
That's how
I learned to drive over bad roads without waking her.
I ﻿see.
What you said made me very happy.
No.
I'm grateful to my mother for teaching me how to drive.
It was for her own sake, but the way she taught me was thorough.
I ﻿see.
Yes.
No doubt it must have been so.
Will you tell me the whole truth afterwards?
Yes, of course.
I'm sure that the truth,
no matter what it is, isn't that frightening.
What is most frightening
is not knowing it.
Oh, to flirt with a man like him and to lose oneself in his arms.
I guess, I'm a bit in love with him too.
Yes, I miss him when he doesn't come...
(My conscience tortures me)
(as if I'd killed that man).
(I sit down, and...)
(close my eyes like this, and think...)
(Will the people living 200 or 300 years from now,)
(the ones we're currently clearing the way for,)
(will they remember us and be grateful?)
(They'll all completely forget.)
People might forget, but God will surely commend you.
(Thanks. That's good to know.)
Sorry we're late.
Either Vanya or Yelena is in most scenes.
We kept repeating the same ones and started the walk-through.
I'm very sorry.
It was for the best, actually.
Why don't you two move a bit as well?
My life is lost, there's no turning back.
That thought haunts me like an evil spirit day and night.
My past went by wfthouf event. It's unimportant.
But the present is worse.
What should I do about my life and my love?
What happened?
(You say such things, but I don't know...)
(what to do.)
(I'm sorry is all I can say.)
(Forgive me. Good night.)
Please understand...
-
(Who's there?)
(Is it you, Sonya?)
(It's me.)
Mr. Kafuku.
I'm very sorry about today.
Never mind.
I ﻿was just lending her an ear.
You say that, but you can't speak English or Mandarin.
She doesn't speak Japanese.
Right.
So we ended up..
Use good judgment.
I'm sorry.
That's all I have to say.
Could you keep driving somewhere?
Somewhere?
I still haven't seen much of Hiroshima.
Some place you like is fine.
All right.
Isn't it kind of like snow?
Straight down that way is the Peace Memorial Park.
The line between the A-Bomb Dome and the Cenotaph is called the "axis of peace."
The architect who designed this facility created this atrium
so that the line would continue on to the sea without being severed.
Why did you come to Hiroshima?
Wait, never mind.
Behind our house was a hill.
5 years ago,
a landslide occurred and our house was destroyed by the debris.
My mother died in that accident.
I'd turned 18 years old right before then,
and had just officially obtained my driver's license.
The car was intact, so I left home in it after her funeral.
So you're 23 years old now.
Yes.
I had nowhere to go, so I just kept heading out west.
But my car broke down in Hiroshima, and I had no money to fix it.
So I began driving those garbage trucks.
Driving is the only thing I can do.
Do you plan on staying here?
I don't know.
My last name, Watari, is from my father,
and it's common Shimane and Hiroshima.
Though I've never met him and don't even know if he's alive.
I ﻿see.
Your last name, Kafuku,
is uncommon, isn't it? Written, "house" and "good luck."
It's auspicious.
My wife said the same thing before we married.
My wife's name is Oto.
Oto.
Oto, as in "sound."
Oto Kafuku. What a name.
The primary reason why she hesitated marrying me.
Her name would be "House of the Gospel."
She died 2 years ago.
Cerebral hemorrhage.
She was on the floor when I got home,
and never regained consciousness.
Does that tape creep you out now?
No, not at all.
In fact, it's...
Sorry!
Thank you!
I like that car.
can tell it's been treated with care,
so I also want to drive it with care.
Let's go.
There must be something. I can't take this.
I'm 47 years old.
If I live to be 60, that's 13 years I have before me.
That's so long.
How am I supposed to live out those 13 years?
Such nice weather.
Yes.
Let's do it over there.
-どうして泣いてるの？
（わからない。何でもないんです。 ただ、涙が出てきただけなの。）
(Never mind. Silly, now I'm crying too.) ﻿(気にしないで。ばかばかしい、今 私も泣いているのよ。)
(You're angry with me because) (あなたが私に怒っているのは、)
(you think I parried your father for selfish reasons.) （あなたは私が利己的な理由であなたの父親を反故にしたと思 っている）
(I don't know if you'll believe me,) ﻿(あなたが私を信じてくれるかどうかはわからないけど、)
(but I swear to you,) ﻿(でも、あなたに誓うわ)
(I married him for love.) ﻿（愛していたから結婚したのよ。）
(I was infatuated with the famous professor.) (有名な教授に夢中になっていけど、
(I know now that the love was fake and not real,) ﻿(その恋は偽物で本物ではなかったことを今は知っている)
(but it seemed real at the time.) ﻿(でも、当時は本物に思えた)
(I couldn't help it.) ﻿(どうしようもなかった)
(But you've glared at me disapprovingly) ﻿(でも貴方は私を不服そうに睨んだ)
(with those clever, suspicious eyes ever since our marriage.) ﻿(結婚してからもずっとその巧妙な疑惑の目で
Stop, stop, we made up. ﻿やめて、やめて、仲直りしたのよ。
Let's forget the past. ﻿過去のことは忘れましょう。
(Don't look at others like that.) （人をそんな目で見ないで、お願い。）
(It doesn't suit you.) ﻿(あなたには似合わない)
(You should trust people, or else life becomes impossible.) ﻿(人を信じるべきだわ。 そうしないと人生が成り立たなくなる。)
Hey. ﻿ねえ。
Tell me hefiestly. ﻿強さを教えて、
Are you happy? ﻿あなたは幸せですか？
(No.) ﻿（いいえ）
(I wish you happiness) ﻿(幸せになってほしい)
(from the bottom of my heart.) ﻿(心の底から)
(As for me, I'm unimportant, like an accessory.) (私はというと、飾りのようなどうでもいい存在だけど...)
(In music, in my husband's house, in romance...) ﻿(音楽にも、夫の家にも、恋愛にも...)
(No matter where I am, I'm just an accessory.) ﻿（どこにいても、私はただのアクセサリーなの。
(To be honest, Sonya...) ﻿(正直言って、ソーニャは...)
(Come to think of it, I'm very unhappy.) (考えてみれば、私はとても不幸ね)
(Happiness for me doesn't exist in this world.) ﻿(私にとっての幸せは、この世界には存在しない)
(Why are you laughing?) ﻿(どうして笑うの？)
I'm happy. ﻿私は幸せです。
I﻿'m just so happy. 本当に幸せなんです。
(I want to play the piano now.) ﻿(ピアノでも弾きに行こうかな。)
Do play. ﻿演奏してください。
I'd love to hear you. ﻿あなたの音が聞きたいです。
Something happened just now.
But it's still just between actors.
There's the next step.
We open it up to the audience.
We recreate that moment onstage in its entirety.
Let's do Act 3, too.
Takatsuki.
Yes.
It's freezing.
Yes.
Thank you for today.
About what?
Nothing.
Could we talk?
If you don't mind, somewhere nearby. Just for a bit.
Where's your car?
It's being repaired.
About today...
what happened?
Between Janice and Yoon-A.
Only they know the answer to that.
One thing I can say is that this text has the power to make that happen.
Mr. Kafuku, why aren't you playing Vanya yourself?
Chekhov is terrifying.
When you say his lines, it drags out the real you.
Don't you feel it?
I can't bear that anymore.
Which means I can no longer yield myself up to this role.
But then, why me?
I feel out of place in this production.
I'﻿m not suited for this role.
I'm sure the audience will feel the same way.
When I auditioned, I was desperate and in shambles.
I didn't know what I was doing.
So why did you choose me?
Oto brought us together.
Please, don't be glib. I'm serious.
I came here to change myself.
You can't control yourself very well.
Right.
From a social standpoint, that's not good.
But it's not necessarily a drawback for an actor.
During your audition and our sessions, you weren't bad.
You can yield yourself to your cast mate.
Do the same to the text.
Yield yourself and respond to the text.
Respond to it?
The text is questioning you.
If you listen to it and respond, the same will happen to you.
Go on ahead. I'll take you to your hotel.
Check, please.
Thank you.
Mr. Kafuku offered to take me to my hotel.
OK, the same as before?
I'll ﻿go pay for parking.
Where's Takatsuki?
Sorry, let's go.
Mr. Kafuku.
I'm empty.
There's nothing inside me.
About the text questioning me...
I think I felt that with Oto's screenplays.
I came here because I wanted to feel it again.
So...
that bit about Oto bringing us together
is true after all.
I finally understand.
Oto and I..
Yes.
We had a daughter.
She died from pneumonia when she was four.
She'd be 23 if she were alive.
Our daughter's death marked the end of our happy times.
Oto quit acting.
I quit working in TV and returned to theater.
Oto was lethargic for years.
But then she suddenly began writing stories one day.
No, she began telling them.
Her first story...
was born after having sex with me.
She suddenly started narrating it after having sex.
But the next morning, her memory was foggy.
I remembered it all, so I told her.
She wrote a script based on it and sent it to a contest.
It won an award and launched her career as a screenwriter.
"That" would strike her at times after sex.
She'd tell it to me and make me remember it.
The next morning, I'd tell her. She'd take notes.
Eventually that became our custom.
Sex and her stories were strongly connected.
Even if it didn't seem like it.
She'd grasp a thread of a story from the edge of orgasm and spin it.
That's how she used to write.
Not all the time.
But whenever her career hit a wall, "that" would strike.
Those stories...
became a bond that helped us overcome our child's death.
I think we were a compatible couple.
We needed each other to get through life.
Everyday living and our sex life
were very fulfilling.
At least they were for me.
But...
Oto saw other men.
She's fine, don't worry.
Oto slept with other men.
Not just one.
Probably with the actors who were cast in the dramas she wrote.
Each relationship ended with the drama,
and another would begin when another drama started.
Do you have evidence?
I've witnessed them before.
She sometimes brought them into our home.
Even so, I've never doubted her love for me.
There was no doubt.
Oto betrayed me so naturally while she loved me.
We were definitely deeply bonded, more so than anyone.
Still, she contained within her
a spot that I couldn't look into, where something dark swirled.
Didn't you ever ask her about any of this?
What I feared most was losing her.
If she found out I knew, we wouldn't have been able to maintain our balance.
Isn't it possible that she wanted you to hear her out?
Did Oto tell you something?
May I tell you a story she told me?
Yes.
It's a very mysterious tale.
A high school girl sneaks into the home of a boy she likes.
I've heard that one, too.
The girl who was formerly a lamprey.
Right.
She sneaks in multiple times and leaves a token of herself each time.
One day, she starts masturbating on Yamaga's bed.
Someone comes home, but the story ends without telling who it was.
No.
It doesn't end there.
You know what happens next?
Yes.
Who was it, then?
Who came up the stairs?
Another intruder.
Another one?
Yes.
It wasn't Yamaga, or his father, or his mother.
Just a burglar.
The burglar finds her half naked in the room
and attempts to rape her.
She takes a pen lying around and stabs the man in the left eye.
She struggles desperately,
and stabs the pen in his temple, in his neck, over and over.
She notices the man has gone limp.
She has killed the burglar.
She washes the blood off in the shower and goes home.
The token she left in Yamaga's room that day
was the burglar's corpse.
The next morning, she goes to school prepared to confess
everything to Yamaga and face his judgment.
But Yamaga looks the same as usual at school that day.
She sees him play soccer after school seemingly carefree as always.
Things are the same the next day.
Nothing has changed. What became of that body in Yamaga's house?
Did she just imagine what happened?
She goes to Yamaga's house but nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Except for one thing...
A surveillance camera has been set up by the front door.
To not appear guilty, she walks past his house without stopping.
Something terrible had happened,
and she was to blame,
but the world seemed serene as if nothing had changed.
However, the world had definitely changed to something sinister.
She turns back.
"I must take responsibility for what I've done."
"I can't pretend it didn't happen."
"Because it definitely happened."
"I definitely killed that man."
She searches under the planter but the key is no longer there.
She stares at the surveillance camera.
Because it's the only change she has elicited in this world.
She looks into the lens and
repeats her words over and over.
Clearly, so that she's understood,
"I killed him."
This is as far as I know.
Maybe the tale ends there, or maybe it continues.
The story leaves a bad taste,
but even so, when I heard it from her,
I felt that Oto had handed me something important.
Mr. Kafuku.
As far as I know, Oto was a really lovely woman.
Of course, what I know must be a tiny fraction of what you know about her.
But I still think so with certainty.
You lived with such a lovely person for over 20 years,
and you should be grateful about that. That's my opinion.
But even if you think you know someone well
even if you love that person deeply,
you can't completely look into that person's heart.
You'll just feel hurt.
But if you put in enough effort,
you should be able to look into your own heart pretty well.
So in the end, what we should be doing
is to be true to our hearts
and come to terms with it in a capable way.
If you really want to look at someone,
then your only option is
to look at yourself squarely and deeply.
That's what I think.
You can go now.
It didn't sound like he was lying.
I don't know if it's the truth,
but he was telling you what was true to him.
I ﻿can tell.
Because I grew up among liars.
I had to discern it or I couldn't survive.
Are you sure?
Yeah.
See, there they go again! Those vulgar geese!
Acting so boorishly!
﻿(ほら、おっ始まった、バチ当たりなガチョウだ！)
(Stop that man! He's gone mad!) (マッチナさんの真似なんかして！） （彼は狂ってしまったんだ！）
- (Give it to me-!) - Let me go, Yelena, let me go! ﻿- （それを俺によこせ...！） - （イェレナ、離して。）
Where is he? どこだ、奴は？
Ah, there he is! ﻿ほーら、いた！
(No!) ﻿いやぁ、（バンッ！）
I didn't get him? 外したか？
I missed again? また、しくじったのか？
Damn it... ﻿くっそぉ！
God damn it! ﻿ええい、ちくしょう！
(Get me out of here!) ﻿（ここから出して！）
What's wrong with me? ﻿一体どうしたんだ、俺は？
(Kill me if you must. I can't stay here anymore!) ﻿(必要なら殺してください。 もうここにはいられない！)
What am I doing? 何をしているんだ？
OK！
-(このようにして)[ロシア語]
-(セレブリャコフは死んだ)[ロシア語]
-(そして物語は終わる)[ロシア語]
Takatsuki, that was good. ﻿高槻、良かった。
- Takatsuki... - Excuse me.
What...
I'm Kato, Hiroshima North Police.
Excuse me.
Koji Takatsuki?
Yes.
Could we speak someplace else?
Here is fine.
On Sunday, November 24,
at around 7:30 p.m., you got into a fight and beat up a man in Shintenchi Park.
Is that correct?
You were caught on camera.
That man died in the hospital yesterday.
Yes, I saw the news.
I did it. That's correct.
Come with us to the police station.
- May I change? - Yes.
"Hiroshima North Police"
The lawyer...
says that Mr. Takatsuki admits to the charge of injury resulting in death.
Can I see him?
Not now.
More importantly, what shall we do about the play?
Must we think about that now?
Yes. It's something we must think about.
We have two choices.
We cancel it,
or you act in it.
I can't do that.
You know all the lines.
Vanya in Japanese like Takatsuki would be the least disruptive.
Yoon-su.
Why are we discussing this now?
I can't do it.
Then let's cancel.
Is that all right?
Give me some time.
We can wait 2 days. That's the limit.
I understand.
I'll get back to you.
Do you know of a place where...
can think in peace?
I'll drive you somewhere.
Kami-junitaki Village.
Are you willing to show me
the place where you grew up?
There's nothing there.
If that's OK with you.
I don't mind.
I'll take the wheel somewhere.
We should take turns to get there in a day.
No taking turns.
Why not?
Because driving is my job.
I ﻿can go without sleeping for a day.
Thank you.
You can rest a bit more.
I ﻿can sleep in the ferry.
I see.
The day Oto died...
She asked before I left if we could talk when I got home.
Her tone was gentle but determined.
I had no plans that day, but kept on driving.
I couldn't go home.
I thought that once I went home, we would never be the same again.
I found her collapsed when I returned late at night.
I ﻿called an ambulance,
but she never regained consciousness.
What if I'd gone home a bit earlier?
I think so every day.
I ﻿killed my mother.
When the landslide crushed our home,
I ﻿was inside, too.
I was able to crawl out from the fallen house.
After escaping, I gazed at the half-collapsed house for a while.
Then some more debris came falling and completely destroyed it.
My mother was found dead under the debris.
I knew she was still in the house.
I don't know why I didn't call for help, or why I didn't save her.
I hated her, but that wasn't the only thing I felt about her.
This scar on my cheek is from that accident.
I was told surgery could make it less conspicuous,
but I don't feel like erasing it.
If I were your father,
I'd hold you round the shoulders and say,
"It's not your fault."
"You did nothing wrong."
But I can't say that.
You killed your mother,
and I killed my wife.
Yes.
...altercation with Kazuya Yamauchi of Hiroshima
and assaulted him, repeatedly punching him in the face.
Yamauchi was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead.
Koji Takatsuki is an actor who has appeared in many dramas and movies,
but after reports of his relationship with a minor broke last year,
he worked independently, quitting his management company in january.
Good morning.
"Flowers & Vegetables For Sale"
Is this where you...
Probably.
It's changed a lot.
Could we go up there?
That's our house.
My mother
had a separate personality named Sachi.
Yes.
She first appeared when I was 14.
She said she was 8 years old,
but she never aged in 4 years.
Sachi would
often appear after my mother beat me up terribly.
It was like her awareness didn't match the body of an adult,
so she couldn't move well.
She'd try to walk but fall over,
and would end up just sitting still.
Sachi liked puzzle rings.
We did crosswords together.
Sachi cried a lot for no reason.
Whenever she did, I'd hold her
and rub her back over and over.
I liked those times.
The last beautiful thing in my mother
was condensed in Sachi.
Sachi was
my only friend.
I don't know if my mother was mentally ill,
or if she was acting to keep me close to her.
But even if she were acting,
it was from the bottom of her heart.
Becoming Sachi was my mother's way
of surviving in a hellish reality, I think.
When that landslide occurred,
I knew that my mother's death
meant that Sachi would die, too.
Even so...
I didn't move.
It's dirty.
Mr. Kafuku,
about Oto...
Would it be hard for you to accept her,
everything about her, as genuine?
Maybe there was nothing mysterious about her.
Would it be hard to think that she was simply like that?
That she loved you dearly and
that she sought other men constantly
don't seem to contradict each other or sound deceptive to me.
Is that strange?
I'm sorry.
I ﻿should have been hurt properly.
I let something genuine slip by.
I ﻿was so deeply hurt.
To the point of distraction.
But...
Because of that...
I pretended not to notice it.
I didn't listen to myself.
So I lost Oto.
Forever.
Now I see.
I want to see Oto.
If I do, I want to yell at her.
Berate her.
For lying to me all the time.
I want to apologize.
For not listening.
For not being strong.
I want her back.
I want her to live.
I want to talk to her just once more.
I want to see her.
But it's too late.
There's no turning back.
There's nothing I can do.
Those who survive
keep thinking about the dead.
I﻿n one way or another,
that will continue.
You and I
must keep living like that.
We must keep on living.
It'll be OK.
I'm sure
we'll be OK.
I refuse! Wait, I'm not done yet! 黙るもんか、まだ、まだ終わってない！
You destroyed my life. I've never lived. ﻿あなたは私の人生を破壊しました。生きた心地がしません。
Because of you, I wasted the best years of my life and spoiled them. ﻿おまえは僕の人生を踏みにじった。 僕には人生などなかった
You're my foe. My bitter enemy! おまえは僕の仇だ、憎き敵だ！
I can't stand it. 耐えられない、
(But what do you want?) （一体、何がしたい？）
I'm going. 私は失敬する。
(What earthly right have you to use such language to me?) ﻿(いったいどんな権利があるんだ そのような言葉を使うとは！)
(You fool!) (このバカがっ！)
(If this estate is yours, then take it, I don't care!) ﻿(この財産がおまえの物なら持って行け！俺は気にしない。)
(This is like hell. I can't stand it. I'm leaving now.) ﻿(地獄のようだわ。我慢できない、もう帰ります)
I'm gifted and intelligent. Courageous, too. 僕だって才能が有れば頭もある、度胸だって。
If I'd lived normally, I might have been another Schopenhauer or Dostoevsky. まともな人生を送っていればショーペンハウエルや ドストエフスキーのようになれたんだ。
I'm sick of this nonsense! ﻿たわごとなんか、たくさんだ！
I'm losing my mind! 気が狂いそうだ！
Mother, I can't take it anymore! 母さん、僕はもうだめです!だめだ！
Listen to the professor! ﻿教授の言う通りになさい!
Mother, what should I do? 母さん、僕はどうすりゃいいんです？
No, never mind. Don't say anything. I know what to do. いや、いい、言わなくて。 どうすりゃいいか一番僕がわかっている。
I'll make you pay for this! ﻿いいか、今に思い知らせてやる!
Jean! ジャン! ー（以下、劇場運営音声）
I'm miserable. なんて辛いんだろう
If you only knew how miserable l am. この僕の辛さがおまえにわかれば
What can we do? 私に何ができるの？
We must live our lives. 私たちは自分たちの人生を生きなければなりません。
Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya. ﻿そう、私たちは生きないと！ワーニャ伯父さん。
We'll live through the long, long days, ﻿長い長い日々を生きていきましょう。
and through the long nights. ﻿そして長い夜を生き抜く。
We'll patiently endure the trials that fate sends our way. ﻿運命に翻弄されながらも、忍耐強く耐えましょう。
Even if we can't rest, ﻿たとえ休めなくても。
we'll continue to work for others 人々のために働き続けましょう
both now and when we have grown old. 今も、そして年老いてからも。
And when our last hour comes ﻿私たちの最期の時が来たら
we'll go quietly. ﻿静かに旅立ちましょう。
And in the great beyond, we'll say to Him ﻿遥か彼方の世界で、神に言いましょう。
that we suffered ﻿私たちが苦しんだことを
that we cried ﻿私たちが泣いたこと
that life was hard. そう、人生は大変だった。
And God... でも神さまは...
will have pity on us. 私たちを憐れんで下さる。
Then you and I... それならあなたと私は...
we4l see that bright, wonderful, 明るく、素晴らしい夢を見られる
dreamlike life before our eyes. 私たちの目の前で夢のような生活を
We shall rejoice, and 私たちは喜ぶのよ、そして
with tender smiles on our faces, 優しい笑顔で、
we'll look back on our current sorrow. 今の悲しみを振り返って、
And then at last そして最期には
we shall rest. 静かな眠りに就きましょう。
I believe it. 私はそれを信じています。
I strongly believe it from the bottom of my heart. 強く強く強く信じています 心の底から。
When that time comes, その時が来たら
we shall rest. 眠りましょう。
(Need a plastic bag?) （ビニール袋が必要ですか？）
(No, i'm fine.) （いいえ、大丈夫です。）
(Saving your points?) （ポイントを節約しますか？）
(No.) （いいえ）